Recent California cannabis regulation is insufficient

There is a CA marijuana regulation that was just passed by Schwarzenegger. The proposal only makes cannabis slightly less illegal. The new law isn’t a full decriminalization at all. Nevertheless, it only concerns possession of a certain amount. Possession of small amounts of weed will now only result in a fine. The penalty used to also contain court appearances.

Schwarzenegger wanting a marijuana reform

The SB 1449 bill was something Governor Schwarzenegger signed most recently. The penalty of carrying less than an ounce of marijuana around went down with SB 1449. Right now, a person can be fined up to $100 and is required to show up to court with a misdemeanor offence. January 1, 2011 is when the change can be taking place. Only a penalty will occur with the brand new bill. There is also an additional bill, Proposition 19, which would make marijuana use for recreational purposes totally legal. Prop 19 is not something that Governor Schwarzenegger supports. Of course it was only practical that he sign in SB 1449. It is a huge burden to courts to have too several cases in there. Also, it was a burden to law officials. California has some of the most relaxed medical cannabis laws in the United States.

The proposal is insufficient

There is not much of an argument to state that cannabis is evil. Marijuana is no more a gateway drug than tobacco or alcohol. Anyone that is determined to use drugs will use them anyway, regardless of whether that person first uses marijuana. The drug being illegal is odd to begin with considering the history of the criminalization of weed. One of the reasons Nixon launched the “Drug War” was to give police force greater powers to crack down on political dissenters.

Few advantages

History teaches us that people will find a way to do what they want, regardless of the law. Crime happened mostly because alcohol was prohibited in the early 20th century. Marijuana being illegal does the exact same thing. The police end up having more to do. Any person who testifies to that probably lived with the K.G.B. or the Stasi looking over their shoulder consistently. Nobody enjoys marijuana being illegal. It doesn’t benefit anyone.

Citations

LA Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/10/schwarzenegger-signs-bill-reducing-offense-for-marijuana-possession.html